Hopper for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments, outlet valve, dispensing device comprising said hopper and method

Hopper for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments,

• wherein the hopper comprises:
• a hopper inlet,
• a hopper outlet, and
• an outlet valve in the hopper outlet that is movable between a closed position in which the outlet valve blocks passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet and an open position in which the outlet valve (4, 104) allows passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet in a drop direction,
• wherein the outlet valve has a lever, that is operable to move the outlet valve between the closed position and the open position, and valve body that defines a holding surface at a side of the valve body that supports the discrete medicaments in the hopper outlet when the outlet valve is in the closed position,
• wherein said holding surface has a cross section for receiving the discrete medicaments,
• wherein said cross section is trough-shaped,
• wherein the hopper further comprises a valve position sensor for detecting the open position and/or the closed position of the outlet valve, based on the position of the lever,
• wherein the valve position sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver at a first end of a detection area (A),
• wherein the outlet valve lever in the closed position at least partially extends into the detection area (A) to intersect with a light beam from the transmitter and deflect the light beam, and in the open position is clear of the detection area, and
• wherein the valve position sensor is configured for detecting when the outlet valve does not fully return to the closed position because at least part of a discrete medicament is stuck between the outlet valve and the hopper outlet.